The monumental exhibition of Immersive van Gogh will have its world premiere in Toronto July 3 to 31, 2020 with a special drive-in viewing, before officially opening later this summer for walk-in experiences. Patrons who purchase tickets to the drive-in preview will also receive tickets to the walk-in experience of Immersive van Gogh when it is safe to open; and when the exhibition can be presented in its full scale and original format.

Gogh by Car allows patrons to drive into the rarely seen historic space of the Toronto Star’s former printing presses at 1 Yonge Street. The expansive venue will be able to accommodate only 14 vehicles per time slot for participants to park, turn off their engines, and enjoy a 35-minute experience from inside their cars featuring an all-encompassing experience of art, light, sound, movement and imagination that evokes the highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness of one of the greatest artists of all time. The exhibition welcomes audiences to a 600,000 cubic ft. immersive digital art experience featuring a curated selection of imagery from van Gogh’s 2000+ catalogue of masterpieces.

“Presenting cultural events during this time of COVID-19 is an incredible challenge and we are saddened to see the cultural calendar in Toronto diminished as almost all arts institutions have cancelled their events and laid off their artists and staff,” said co-producer Corey Ross. “We believe in the power of art to uplift, inspire and connect communities; and it is more important than ever to offer a creative outlet for Torontonians to escape and recharge during this unprecedented global crisis.”

The exhibition is designed by the master creators of Atelier des Lumières, who originated the digital art experience in Paris seen by more than 2 million people worldwide. Massimiliano Siccardi (creative director) and Luca Longobardi (composer) have been working from their studios in Italy and Germany, with the creative support of Toronto-based contractors, designers and technical stagehands to prepare Immersive van Gogh for preview.

“We have been working around the clock to come up with innovative approaches that will make presenting Immersive van Gogh safe for our audiences, while keeping our artists, contractors and staff employed at their pre-COVID salaries,” says coproducer Svetlana Dvoretsky. “We recognize the devastating impact that coronavirus continues to have on the livelihood of artists and the cultural industry; and will continue to do our part to support artists and make art accessible during these extraordinary circumstances. We believe strongly in the resilience of culture bout Lighthouse Immersive:in this great city.”

Lighthouse Immersive brings together two of Toronto’s preeminent production companies – Starvox Entertainment, Canada’s fastest growing live entertainment company responsible for bringing hit shows like The Art of Banksy to Toronto, and Show One Productions, a full-service production company that presents high-profile international classical musicians and orchestras, opera stars, dance, and theatre – to present the world premiere of IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH in Toronto. Working directly with the Italian masters of immersive digital art responsible for the blockbuster Atelier des Lumières exhibition seen by more than two million visitors worldwide, Lighthouse Immersive has custom-designed IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH to envelop the 600,000 cu.ft. space of the Toronto Star’s five-story warehouse.

Get your tickets here. Find our more about the amazing Vincent van Gogh here.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.